Reversing mechanism for locomotives.



Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

' 3 SHPETS-SHEET I.

s. e. THOMSON.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLlCATlQN FILED FEB-16, 1915.

INVENTOR COLUMBIA FLANOURAPH 1., WASHINGTON, D. c.

I L J..

WITNESSES S. G. THOMSON.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES- APPLICATLON FILED FEB. 16, 1.915. 1,150,645. Patented Aug. 17, 1915. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ill]! WITNESSES INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANBGRAIH (0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

S. G. THOMSON.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATlQN FILED FEB-161 915- 1,150,645. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET}!- to? 198 96 (9g WITNESSES INVENTOR GILT? of Which-the following V exact descriptiongg etetence bemg haq tto the t illustmtingthe 2p 15' 2, showing another" dl l w h om 0511 6 3 :Be it. knowh thilQtEi-I; a -icitizenof the ji Uliite j Pennsylvaniw halve inye ;1S 1 the indicator. ofjFig M L: MS (1 States, Ti'esidihg t Residing in the couhtycofa t new i a'ndiilse ful iRevefsing Mechahism r Loc omdtivesgi this? specification,

9 are, respectitely, faneleimtioh endi bottoih plan of the compositefevei sing;shaftflever usuall employed; and w ic Wil1,x atth sameitime, delivei' tolthetumblingjoi-"l lifting shaft-the'orce%app1ied1atthe;o e u "acterlgwhich will exentiwdlni-fofmw A Ithe reversingiflshaftg These objects are tained"byJaeanbvel-systemiotdevices, refe ablyflinvolting atheizuseiiof Ta flexiblel tens ionf' memberarrangedi' tot @1111] around- "the taro prescfibedrbyr'the armsLof theulink-lifting "mreversinglsha ftq Q Referringvfirstto othr zforms *ofthedmiention. on fMy;inventionahaslrelationtoulreversl 1 mechanism 7 for; loeomotivesfthe main-obj Whichmtill be h Views, illhst aref diagrammati beiiig 5 to; provide 1 reversing 'l lighterdn itsparts jthan th heavy extension rods Rand. connectlons arcss Also 'ltoiprovide a device of this "chat Berk js anifl State ffull, clear, r n t spectiyely, to; Figsjflw ahd ofi {a l preferred M- construction fof the ylwihding g."

shaft: Fig; '64s a section on the lin men d t ilfsectional View of Figs; :10 to 22, inclusive; s

p r eidh y tion, shown in Figs. IL- and 2,; the. nuinehflg 2 1: designates the link-reversing or tlmjbling Venticalplanes, (see heftuyvl iich is? conilectedgkto the usua11 link mechz mism throhghehy suitable :coiinect tions such s s-shown at 4:. '{Depending from the shaft 2 is asector" leVerhaving the two arms5 and 6 in Edifl'efent FigsL8 and9). end .oijwhich. is

4 $7 designates a. cable, 11 adjtl'stablywattachedIt0;the arm 5 atwi-the point passes thence ar'olind the grooved periphery of said am andx back tof a" Winding drum or pulley V t The other. end of the cab1e7isvadj1istab1y c0nnectet1=to1theerm 6- at they'pointlO and 1 passes around the grooved periphery; of-said harms-in the opposite di'rectioll to the first named endcportion of. the said cable; to; Mid eromfid pulley 311, id thencebacktowthe dtum fitjiTheqdrum '9is shown as mounted upon; one en'dqiortion of a winding, shaft-312,

bblitlinidwayyof; the Width 1 of the locomow tiYeQ Attached 'toathepopposite end poi-tion of sald shaft. is a: l reyersing mechanism h1ch,-imthese {two fi ure ds shown as com andwiengagedllby 5 jworrrr 14: Lion a shaft 15 F hThe purposegqof onnectedrbyhhevel.gears 16 toahand-operatiiig wheel 17; 1 18 designate counterbalance springs attached {to 1 the cable 7 at ;19 and-,1 1 ialso thavingwa fasteniIIg-et QO to somerigid f1 poption :ofgthej locomotive. "these springs, isto; Icoh ter'act; the eccentric Weight of theqreversihgshaft 2 and the 'parts sqspended thereffom. J-21;]desig1j1ates an indishaft 12.. 25 designateskagggiide pulley, any

number of which may I be employed; to guide 1 on change the direction; of the ica hlet 7,- asma-y be necessaryinenyparticlllercase; fPuHeyfl spring bracket 261 fohgthe itpu rpose ofkeeplingx the? cable; might;-

L The Jo a 11,g-

t o the wilidiiig idr'umf end of the shaft 12 is pivoted;at 30 so th t? the SHaftIZmaysWin'g as the Spring-1528 compx esse's and j-releas'esv This provides an adjustment for expansion and contractlon and for taking up the stretching and wear of the cable. It will readily beseen that the rotation of the shaft 2 will be through equivalent arcs for any given movement of the operating handwheel 17 through any portion of its operating are.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the mechanism is located along the side of the locomotive instead of its central portion,-

as in Figs. 1 and 2. The sector lever, which is secured to the tumbling shaft 31, has one of its arms 32 extending above, and its other arm 33 extending below said shaft. The respective ends of the operating cable 34 are connected to these two arms; and the two arms are also united to form a portion of a pulley circle to act as a lever arm for a counterbalance weight 35 which always acts tangentially from this lever arm circle. 36 is a supplemental counterbalance which passes around the pulley 37 and is connected to the upper branch of the cable 34 so as to have substantially the same counterbalance action asthe springs 13 before described.

The winding drum 38 for said cable is carried by a shaft 39 between two spring supported bearings 40. The springs of these bearings act to resist the cable tension and permit a certain amount of floating movement and freedom of alinement of the winding shaft. In these figures the reversing mechanism is shown diagrammatically as consisting of a hand lever 41 connected to the shaft 39. In practice the shaft 39 may be operated either directly or through any suitable gearing or connections. The ends of the cable 34 are preferably adjustably connected to the respective lever arms 32 and 33 so as to permit adjustment of the cable either to alter its tension or to change 'is shown as connected to the shaft 39 in sub the relative position of the lever arms and the winding drum by tightening one cable and slackening the other. This adjustment may be used to set the indicator 42 (which stantially the same manner as the indicator 21 is connected to the shaft 12 in the form first described) in exact relationship with the position of the arms 32 and 33, and

which position, in turn, determines the cutoff of the steam valve. Obviously, the cable may be provided with any suitable adjusting means for this purpose.

Figs. 5 and 6 show essentially the winding shaft of Figs. 1 and 2, although in a somewhat morecomplete'mechanical form. The shaft 12 is shown as carried inside of the tubular casing 12 which provides means whereby roller bearings may be employed,

as indicated in Fig. 6. The gear wheel 24 is inclosed'by another casing 12 which is securely fastened to one end of the casing 12,

which in turn affords means for keeping the bearings in proper alinement and relation to each other, while permitting displacement of the casingas a whole. It is obvious that indicator gear and worm gear can be placed together and included in one casing. 12 in this figure indicates gearing for actuating the indicator. J

Fig. 7 shows more in detail a mechanical construction which may be employed for the indicator of'Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In this fig way to the movingparts of the reversing system in a way to give the desired indication, may be employed.

Fig. 10 shows the flexible connection 46 as passing between a pulley 47fon the winding shaft and a pulley 48 on a second shaft. The sectoral lever arm'49v on the reversing shaft 50 has the cable connected thereto at substantially its middle point, in order that rotation can be obtained in either direction from the central position."

In Fig. 11 the flexible member 51 passes over a pulley 52 secured directly to the operating wheel 53, and a pulley 54 on the reversing shaft 55,- the operating planes. of the two pulleys 52 and 54 beingat right angles to each other, so that the cables leave the pulleys at an angle to :theiroperating planes. It is apparent that the angularity of the operating planes of the two pulleys can vary anywhere between ninety degrees anda parallel position. I

Fig. 12 shows two pulleys56mounted directly on the operating shaft 57, which in this case becomes the winding shaft. Each of these drums is connected by a cable158 with one-of two oppositely extending arms 59 on the reversing shaft 60. 61 is a guide pukliey which gives theproper angle to the ca e.

Fig. 13 shows a worm gear 62 for actuat- I ing the winding shaft 63, with a flexible member 64 connecting the drum 65. of the winding shaft to the sector 66 on the re versing shaft 67 68 is .a guide pulley which is used to cross the cables in the proper directions and prevent them from interfering with each other. This arrangement can be used to advantage where the space is occupied 1n the lower forward position of the reversing shaft circle.

operating handle in the cab means a corre:

sponding movement of the steam valve. As

will appear from the foregoing, the flexible connection can be also used as a link in a system of stiff connecting tension, rods and shafts, the flexibility thus being introduced only Where it is needed to accomplish the required result. The use of flexible connectors also greatly facilitates the design of a locomotive, since they can be carried around projections and intermediate parts by means of idler or carrier pulleys. In the case. of stiff connectors, modifications of these parts are necessary, or else a complication of levers, gearing, bell-cranks, are required. further advantage of the flexible'connection is that expansion and contraction of the connecting cable does not causeany change in the relative positions of the operating handle and of the steam valve, such as ocours with the ordinary stiff reach rod. In my construction the cables pull oppositely to each other and expand and contract equally, and the change in length is taken up by the tension adjusting means. For this samereason the cab indicator can be relied upon for an exact reading of the relative positions of the steam valve and of the piston in the cylinder, unaffected by any expansion or contraction which may occur. The flexible connection also makes it possible to keep the main transmission cable attachments independent of any connection to the boiler, so that the relative expansion of the boiler and the locomotive frame does not affect the accurate operation of the transmission system.

The particular design and relation of the parts in any given instance will be governed by that which will give the best construction and arrangement for the particular type of locomotive to which the system is applied. The principle of uniform rotation is obtained by having the flexible member acting on a revolving part by assing around an arc of the pulley circle. ither the full circumference of pulleys or drums may be used, or only sectors of the same acting as a lever arm Where the rotation is limited. In the latter, only so much of the complete circle is used as an arm as will .include the are necessary to form a continuous bearing While Iv have illustrated my invention as applied to a locomotive, I donot desire to restrict myself thereto, as it is also applicable for reversing the links of a stationary 7 engine, especially when it is desired to controland operate such an engine from a dis tance.

It is obvious that any suitable'form of flexible connection may be used, including cables, ropes, chains, belts, steel bands,

sprocket chains, silent chains, etc.; and the terms cable and .flexlblememberlas used herein and in the appended claims are to be understood in this broad sense.

WVherever it is stated herein or in the ap- V pended claims that the mechanism or a por- A. tion thereof is attached to the locomotive boiler, such statement is intended to include the attachment to any portion of the locomotive which moves with the boiler as the latter expands and contracts. Thus, such mechanism may be attached to a bracket extending directly from the boiler or it may be attached to portions of the cab or cab. brackets which are fastened to the boiler and move with it as it expands and contracts. t

I claim:

1. In a locomotive, the combination with a link reversing shaft attached to the supporting frame of the locomotive, of operate ing mechanism attached tothe locomotive boiler, and actuating connections between said mechanism and said shaft, said connections comprising a flexible member, sub- I v stantially as described.

2. In a locomotive, the combination with a link reversing shaft attached to the supporting frame of the locomotive, of operating mechanism attached to the locomotive boiler, and actuating connections between said mechanism and said shaft, said connections comprising a flexible member, and a lever member having an arcuate face engaged and acted upon by the flexible member, substantially as described.

3. In a locomotive, the combination with a rotatable reversing shaft attached to the supporting frame of the locomotive and having an arm to lift a portion of the link motion of the locomotive, an operating handle attached to the locomotive boiler and located in the cab ofnthelocomotive and arranged to move through an arc, and connecting' an arm tolifta portionfiofethelink 4.111 alocomotive, the comb nat a counter-balancing rotatable i frevers'i rigTshaft atta'e ity'; force l of the connectiohsi ipiilling supporting frame of tlie loeomotiveaii against one of said tension members.

11. locomotive reversing mechanism Jtion, an operating handle attachedft the lohaving two revolving members actuated by comotive boilerj .andQarranged; t move 1a flexible tenslon memberjhol ding them toflexible memberj to effect the rotati'on shaftthrough equivalent angles for 1 tiallyt as described; --j 5. In a locomotive; the

I one direction and-the other torotate prising a flexible 'memb r,zand;i syste' porting frame of the locomotive; of operat boiler, and actuating; lconnectionsf between said mechanismand said shaft, said oonnece fi tions comprisingtw o flexible"tensionimemw 13o e e erating mechanism oneofsaid tensionmemLw;

yflexible tension member. for adjustingfthe tension of said flexible"tensionmembers;

gears and ipulleyscooperating lwith two revolving membershaving theirpjeriphmovement of thehperatingfhandle" rough] erles attached together by flexlble tension any portion of fits operatingaro substanl embers, and meansfat the ends of saicl flexlble member for lalteringithe distance W between the pointssof attachment of the teneombinati M supI- a link reversing shaft attached it yvolving membersl a e e 13. A locomotive reversmg mechanism having a tubularcaslng lnclosmg a rotating bers being foperative to rotate" said 'shaftfin asdescrlbed;

the opposite direction, substantially e v scribed. I l 1" fl 3, haVmgatubular'casing inclosingarotating '6, In a locomotive,"thefcombinat on 1t shaftand flexible fastenings for attaching 'arotaryreversinglshaftfattachedtothesup saidcasing tothelocomotive, i

porting frame of the ,locomotiveand opposite lever arms formed with I to the locomotive boiler and oomp flexible tension membersengaging a substantially as described, I 5

e e u I flexible tensionimen'ibers.

I 3 having two opposedffiexible tension member I acting opposite directions on a; revolving,

'8. Alocomotivesreversing mechanismhav gether by flexible tension members "e a a f 1 a casing containinggears, rotating shaft,

and flexible fastenings for endsyof an operatingmeeha' i e e caslllg t0 the locomotive. a

nism havingaf Worm gearing? a valve indiing upon the arcuateendsfof saia leve arms,

415 ,7. In a lo oomotivegthe clombinatjio f anged m series: ona lrevolving shaft. I l,

a a valve operating reversingfshaft of In azxlocomotive, afreversing mecha- I dicator mechanismlolcated in I the nismfhavingfarevolvingshaftfa spur gear j locomotive, te shovv therelat -e;position of fastenedto said shaft, and a valve-position and? actuating connections e e e e indicator oPeratedQby' tween saidzmechanism and said shaft,- eX- spur gear. 1: I

18. In a locomotive reversing mechanism;

an; indicator represent the steam cylinderfllength, and a marker, p e a d 1 r so as" to indicate, by their I relative location, j thepointof'I-out-ofi' ofgthe steamvalve.

arC, substantially as described ing] two revolving members attached ing around the periphe n at least a g5 mem of said revolving' fmemb shavin holding abearin ag -havingavvinding dumjj attached to one end ofga revolving shaft; andgearing attached to 9. In a locomotive, a reversing Wheel connected to said gearing andga flexilmk reversing shaft of thelocomotive.

gether, andpmeansat at least one end'ofsaid.

,sion members te'the peripheries ofsaid re- AWlocomotive reversingfmechanism I F15ir In a locomotiverever singmechanism,

attaching said" a 1 16. In a locomotlve, areversmgmechm V :cator attaehmentafandja winding drum; ar-

1 10 the "rotation of said havingua graduated scale to one ofjsaid members being operated i by a spurgearfastenedtoarevolving shaft, I 12o.

" IQQA;locomotive"reversing mechanism Wits" other end, and anoperating shaft and blej: member connectingfsaid drum with (f 12. In a locomotive reversing mechanism,

20. A locomotive reversing mechanism the center of the locomotive, for the greater having transmission members lying adj aportion of the length of said members.

cent to a vertical longitudinal plane through In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set the center of the locomotive, for the full my hand. 5 length of the firebox. SAMUEL G. THOMSON.

21. A locomotive reversing mechanism Witnesses: C having transmission members lying adja- HARRY Eeonr, cent to a vertical longitudinal plane through J. I. RIsT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'adrlressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). 0. v 

